Having been downed by Bexhill United last weekend, Newhaven were looking to bounce back to form when they visited Eastbourne United yesterday afternoon.
It’s fair to say that The Oval has not been the happiest of hunting grounds for the Dockers over the past few seasons, and there was no reason to believe that things would get any easier this season.
After a slow start to their campaign, United came into this match with just one defeat in their last seven games; and that a narrow 1-0 defeat against all conquering Haywards Heath.
One thing Newhaven didn’t need yesterday was to start slowly and hand their hosts any sort of initiative.
So when in just the second minute a miscommunication between Bailie Rogers and Roman Chiosa led to United taking the lead the signs were ominous.
A back-pass from Rogers to Chiosa was closed down by James Hull, Chiosa’s attempted clearance struck Hull and the hosts were a goal up.
With the Dockers struggling to get into the game, it was United who looked far more likely to score next. Former Docker Mo Huchu forced a decent save from Chiosa, while a few corners caused havoc in our backline.
Just after 15 minutes, though, most spectators inside The Oval were left stunned when Newhaven scored from out of nowhere.
A well-worked move down the right culminated with Ezra Roeg heading a cross into the path of Lee Robinson, and the striker’s instinctive flick saw us draw level.
Unfortunately, parity didn’t last long. Within three minutes United were back in front. Huchu worked his way into the area, and his cross-come-shot was deflected past Chiosa and into the net.
Still United poured forward and Chiosa twice had to be alert to keep the deficit to just one.
Yet, it always seemed only a matter of time before United scored again, and on the half-hour they did just that. Rhyle Ovenden taking advantage of yet more sloppiness in the Newhaven backline to give the hosts a two-goal advantage.
It was Ovenden who then further extended their lead eight minutes before the interval. Chiosa made a brilliant save, turning the ball onto the post, but as had been the case throughout the half, it was a United player who reacted quickest, and we were subseqently to punished.
Things soon went from bad to much worse when Charlie Gibson was stretchered off with a nasty looking knee injury, after falling awkwardly. Fingers crossed the injury isn’t as bad as feared and that we’ll see Charlie back in a Newhaven shirt sooner rather than later.
His departure paved the way for new signing Shay Tobin to enter the fray,
Thankfully, we managed to make it to half-time without any further damage to the scoreline. Fears among the small gathering of Newhaven fans at this point was that if we didn’t improve significantly, we could be facing a real battering.
The break saw the Dockers make three more changes, with Billy Oliver, Dash Callen-Dickens and the returning Alfie Rogers all introduced.
The changes worked wonders. Within seven minutes of the restart we were, somehow, right back in the game.
First Callen-Dickens scored with a brilliant finish from an improbable angle (no Veo for this game unfortunately; someone at Eastbourne doesn’t like it!) before a United defender brought us right back in it with a header back to his keeper that ended up in the back of the net… I’ve still no idea how. Shame there was no Veo… reckon that could have gone viral!
Just three minutes later, Newhaven were within inches of completing what would have been the most remarkable of comebacks when Oliver headed just over.
Having been rocked by Newhaven’s show of defiance, the hosts began to regain their foothold in the game, and with 25 minutes remaining Jake Prodger gave United some breathing space with a low shot into the corner.
It was United who now began to look the more dangerous side again, as Newhaven’s belief seemed to dissolve once more.
However, with the game nearing completion, Eastbourne were reduced to nine men; first Ollie Hyland was sin-binned in the 85th minute before Dan Hull was sent off with the game entering injury time.
Sensing a chance to still get something for the game, Newhaven threw the kitchen sink at United. Robinson hit the post; Oliver had a shot cleared off the line… but there was to be no miraculous conclusion.
So, despite a spirited second-half performance, a really flat first 45 minutes, which featured a whole host of needless and basic mistakes across the park, cost us dearly.
A young team we may be, but unfortunately that can’t excuse all of the issues yesterday, some of which were as basic as not communicating with each other.
Still, the way we dug in after half-time fully displays the spirit the boys possess, and when we cut out the basic errors – or just reduce a few of them – I’m still convinced that we’re a match for most teams in the league.
We’ll need to be error-free on Tuesday night as high-flying Steyning visit Fort Road. Win that, though, and we could climb to sixth in the table.
We’re then away to Lancing next weekend, with the game kicking off at the unusual time of 17:45 due to the match being part of the SCFL ground-hop weekend.
We hope to see as many of you as possible at both matches!
Come On You Dockers!
